英语听力：自然百科 大堡礁 堡礁内外(28)

It's a hangover from times when these birds nested on islands with predators¹.

这是它们在有捕猎者出没的岛上筑巢的时期遗留下来的习惯。

Flying in and out at night was one way to avoid them.

夜晚飞出去是躲开捕食者的一种方法。

Parents find each other in the dark by their raucous² calls.

父母间通过刺耳的叫声找到对方。

The pair reaffirms its bond before the returning bird enters the underground nest.

它们在进入地面巢穴之前要确定它们在一起。

Although there's a little housekeeping to be done first.

尽管首先有一点家务需要做。

Both parents share nursery duties,and they take turns to fly great distances in search of food.

父母分担育儿的义务，它们轮流飞很远去寻早食物。

They may be at sea for several days.

它们可能呆在海上几天。

They leave as they arrived, in the dark.

离开和到达一样，都在夜里。

Well before sunrise,they line up in clearings like aircraft taxiing for takeoff.

日出之前，它们在空地上排好队，就像飞机滑行准备起飞。

1 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 raucous   

adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的

参考例句：

• I heard sounds of raucous laughter upstairs.我听见楼上传来沙哑的笑声。
• They heard a bottle being smashed,then more raucous laughter.他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。